Paint mixer



M. FOX

PAINT MIXER Jan. 8, 1946.

Filed Dec. 7, 1945 INVENTOR.

M ITC H E L L Fox XMM A TTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 8, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE' geszns PAINT Mitchel. Fo tafford, Ea Application December 7, 1943, Serial N- 513,217

mains- This invention relates generally to agitators and moreparticularly toan improved construe tier! ofagitator or stirring devicef oruse in connection with containers such as are employed in theshipment, storage "and dispensation of paint and other viscous'liguids,the agitator of the present invention being intended for use primarilywith, although not necessarily limitedto, containers of mgderate size,such as those having a capacity of five gallons.

The successful handling of viscous liquids'such as paints and the like,when storedv in relatively large receptacles, such as five gallonreceptacles, has presented serious difficulties due to the fact that" sthe mixturesettles, a sediment is formed in the'bottom of the containerwhich must be brought back into suspension if the mixture is to serveits intended purposes in themost efilcaimi' n erthe present inventionincluding means which operate effectively and efiioiently to insurerapid anduniiorm dispersion of the settled sediment throughout theliquid bod-y of the mixture.

Still another and'important object of the present in've 'tion is toprovide a paint mixer having 'n agitator element which is so constructedthat produces spaced'oo'ncentric zones of the container within which themixer i "installed for u'sejbut also insures effective downwardboring ofthe agitator element into "e settled sediment in the bottom of theconwhereby to efiectively stir "and lift the sa e" for"'unif orrndispersion throughout the time 6f the mixture? 'Othei objects and"advantages of the present it n61: only agitation in tainer inventionand economieseffeeted incident to the 99 @1 5 2mg operationof'theagitator conlz q i ats r's jelea itt a mbc ie kie principles ofthe present in option will appear e hereinafter, it;beingunders'toodthat substantially in the camrec i "as a i au ment or he1 It as hereinafte were a mine d awin an as finall m te out intiieappendeu claims.

1 4 l5. ill

nexpensively by a simple stamping operation, f

ent invention installed for use in a container for paint or the like;

Figure 21s a vertical sectional view through the container showing'theagitator element in side elevation;

Fligure 3 is a transverse sectional view ofthe agitator element as takenon the line 3:3 of Figure 2;

Figures 4 and 5 are vertical sectional views taken respectively on theiinesllrfl and 5:5 Oi Figure 2; and

Figure 6 is a 'side elevational view of a. C09: tainer, partly brokenaway, showing the agitator elementofthe present invention installedin-the container and the means for securing it a ainst vertical or axialdisplacement during rotation thereof. .7

Referring now to the drawing, it will he observed that the agitator ofthe present invention is shown installed for use in a container [0 ofthe type customarily employed for paints or other such heavy bodiedliquids; this type of container being generally"providedwithan annularlip or head H at the upper edge thereof. The mixing or agitator 'of thepresent invention, designated generally by the, reference numeral 12,essentially consists of an agitator element L3 preferably stamped out offiat sheet metal to the upper edge of which is secured, in any, suitablemanner, an operating handle assembly IQ for rotating the agitatorelement about its central vertical a ds. Referring first to the agitatorelement I; it will be noted that it is generally in the fer hrectangular plate of such size as to be read l accommodated within thecontainer. ID, the tra s verse over-all dimension of this agitator elebeing only somewhat less than the dianie H the container 10, while itsove -e1 hei ht so, 8 what exceeds half the effective depth of the con,-t'ainer. As most clearly appears in Eigures 2 tov 5i, theplate of whichthe agitator element l is formed is so formed as to. pro 'de it with aplugrality of laterally spaced ve allyv extendin blades or vanes l5, l6I1, l8 l9, a d my, th vanes l5 and 211 so formed alon the i lli gite veuc lly extending edges of the plate helps 'op'pos tlif turned withrespect to the flat plane or the main body-of the plate. The vanes l6and I1, which are next adjacent to the outermQSt vane 15, are wardlyturned in the same direc on as ea van l5,whilethe vanes d ja'cent theoutermost vane 2Q, are. outwardly turned in the same general directionas the latter.

By reason of this construction, the. agitator len ent 13 is respectivelyprovided at its apposite s d s with pDositely en in cha ne s. nd 22, oneof these channels 2| being formed is vth outwardly diverging pair, ofvanes. 15, @1191 the other channel 21193: the outwardlydiv vanes I1 andI8, disposed between the oppositely presenting channels 2| and 22 and toeither side of the central vertical axis of rotation of the agitatorelement, constitute independent stirring blades forthe unit. Where theagitator element 3 is formed of a sheet metal stamping,the severalblades or vanes 5, l6, H, 8, l9 and 20 are preferably formed as integralelements by pressing them out of the normal fiat plane of the sheetmetal of which the agitator element is formed, thus providing a pair ofvertically extending relatively large openings 23 and'24 spacedlaterally to either side of the central axis of rotation of theagitator.

As is indicated most clearly in Figure 3, the agitator unit is adaptedto be rotated about its central vertical axis in the clockwise directionindicated by the arrow, and it will be apparent that function as meansfor sweeping through the mass of material to be agitated, also toreenforce and impart rigidit to the agitator element. 'To furtherstrengthen and rigidify the agitator element its upper edge is laterallyturned toprovide a horizontally extending flange 26 to which is secured,in any suitable manner, the operating when the agitator unit isso'rotated, the channels 2| and, 22 will sweep through the outer portionof the material contained in the container l0, whilethe intermediateblades l1 and I8 will sweep through the central portion of the material,thereby setting up in the container concentric zones of agitation in thematerial undergoing agitation;

. In order to facilitate this agitation and insure uniform dispersion ofthe solids throughout the liquid body of the mixture, the agitatorelement 3, in addition'to the large openings 23 and 24, which are formedbetween the several pairs of agitator vanes or blades, is additionallyprovided with'a series of smaller openings 25 formed in groupsrespectively disposed between each pair of f the said blades or vanes.These smaller openings i.

are arranged in vertically spaced relation to form a given groupthereof, it being noted that one such" group of vertically spacedopenings '25 is provided in the base of the channel 2| formed by thepair of blades l5 and |6,-the second groupof thesevertically spacedopenings is provided in the base of the channel 22 formed'by the blades19 and 20, while the thirdgroup of vertically spaced, openings is formedin the immediate reionof the verticalaxis of rotation of the agitatorelement, that'is, between the intermediate pair of oppositelyturnediblades or vanes l1 and I8. Preferably, these openings '25 areformed by so cutting and stamping the sheet material as to providestruck-out tabs or tongue-like elements 26 which'extend angularly withrespect to the plane of the main flat body portion of the agitatorelement. Inthis connection, it is-important to observe that thesestruck-out tabs 26 are all similarly inclined upwardly and outwardlyfrom their points of attachment to the main body of 7 the agitatorelement, and that the group of tabs immediately associated with thechannel 2| formed by the blades l5 and I6 project in .ODDO- 1 v V g sitedirection from the said'blades, or, in other words, rearwardly of thesaid channel 2|. Similarly, the group of tabs immediately associatedwith the channel 22 formed-by the pair of vanes or blades l9 and 20project'in a-direction oppositely from the latter or rearwardly'of thechannel, 2 2. The group of tabs immediately associated with theintermediate pair of blades I! and I8 'may project in either directionor they may be dispensed with entirely, thereby leaving the central flatpart of the agitator element with a plurality of unrestricted aperturesof any suitable size, shape and number.

The several vanes or blades l 5 to 20, extending as they do verticallyof the main plate ofthe] agitator, serve, in addition to their'principalhandle assembly designated generally by the reference numeral I4; Thishandle assembly preferably includes a vertically extending post or shaft21- to the upper end of which is suitably .central vertical axis ofrotation of the latter closely approximates the vertical axis of theshaft. Fitted loosely on the shaft 21 is a bearing sleve 3| centrallysecured to a transversely extending strap member 32 to provide, inefifect, a pair oi'oppositely extending arms 32 and 32 the free ends ofwhich are upwardly ofiset, as at 33, and equipped with hook-shaped bolts34 whereby to firmly secure the opposite ends of the strap member to theannular bead or rim H of the containerl 0, as shown in Figure 3. Whenthis strap member is properly clamped in position extending diametricallacross the top of the container, the sleeve l4 carried thereby providesa substantial vertical bearing within which the shaft 21 is free torotate and shift axially, thus permitting the agitator element l3 to beraised and lowered during rotation thereof and so mak ing it possible tomore effectively attack and stir up the solid mass settled in the bottomof the container.

Preferably, the shaft21 is providedwith an annular groove 35 into whichis adaptedto be projected a set screw 36 for holding theagitator elementI3 fixed-against axial displacement while.

permitting it to be freely rotated. This set screw 36 may be projectedthrough one or the other of several vertically spaced threaded holes 31tapped transversely through the wall of the sleeve 3| so' as to securethe agitator for'rotation at various adjusted elevations, as, forexample, inFigure 6, wherein the agitator is shown supported forrotation in its uppermost elevated position. J 7

If desired, the agitator l3 may be provided with an auxiliary stirrerblade 38 which is loosely secured to the bottom thereof by a headed pin39,

the blade 38'being longitudinally :slotted, as; at

4!), to permit. it to be extendedlaterally to one side of the agitatorfor .eifectively sweeping through the chime corners of the container andstirring up such settled pigment as might otherwise remain embeddedtherein, Also, this auxiliary blade 38 serves as a means for increasingthe effectiveness of the agitator unit when used in over-sizecontainers. 'It will be noted that the auxiliary blade is loosely heldin a generally horizontal position, as shown in Figure 3, by virtue ofthe engagement of the upper edge 4|,

thereof by the lower ends of the blades or vanes l8 and 20 which projectacross the plane of the blade38. I V

j In the operation of the agitator, after the same has been securedtothecontainer as shownand described, and the set screw 36-withdrawnsoas to permit the shaft 21 to freely shift axially within its bearingsleeve 3|, the agitator element I3 is lowered into the material to bemixed so that its lower edge rests upon or is disposed somewhat beneaththe surface of the solid material settled in the bottom of thecontainer. Thereupon, upon rotation of the operating handle 28, theagitator element I3 is caused torotate and so gradually scrapes away andstirs up the settled sediment and starts it back into suspension.Preferably, when it is intended to initially attack the sedimentation inthe bottom of the container, the operator bears down upon the handlesimultaneously as he effects rotation of the agitator about its centralaxis of rotation, thereby exerting a downward cutting pressure whichacts to quickly and expeditiously attack and disperse the sedimentsettled in the bottom of the drum. As this solid material is loosened bythe cutting action of the several vertically extending blades or vanesof the agitator element I3, it is caused to rise in the container by theswirling action of the agitator element and is forced through and sodispersed by the various openings 23, 24 and 25 formed in the latter.The several inclined tabs or tongue-like elements 26 greatly facilitatethis dispersion of the solid materials throughout the liquid body of themixture and, due to their inclination, serve as miniature propellerelements to propel the mass upwardly as the agitator is rotated aboutits central axis of rotation. At the Same time, these inclined tabs 26,particularly those immediately associated with the outer channels 2| and22 provide thrust surfaces against which the mass of the material beingagitated reacts to force the agitator downwardly toward the bottom ofthe container as it is rotated by the handle 28. In this manner, theagitator, during rotation thereof, is caused to be forced graduallydownwardly into the settled pigment from the top to the bottom thereof,in consequence of which the settled solid content of the material israpidly and effectively dispersed to render the mixture suitable foruse.

While in its preferred construction, the agitator of the presentinvention is constructed of sheet metal, it will be understood that itis not intended to limit it to such construction and that it may well bemade and formed of other suitable materials, such as various plasticswhich lend themselves readily to molding operations by which theagitator element 13 may be molded of such plastics as a unit. Also, theseveral vertically extending blades or vanes and the several verticallyspaced tabs or tongue-like elements necessarily do not have to be formedas integral elements of the main plate, but instead may be separatelyformed and secured thereto to provide an agitator having all of theoperating characteristics of the integrally formed unit. Accordingly, itwill be understood that the agitator of the present invention issusceptible of being modified in various respects without departing fromthe general principles or real spirit of the invention and it isaccordingly intended to claim the same broadly as well as specificallyas indicated by the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and useful is:

1. An agitator adapted to be removably inserted within a container forpaint or the like comprising a substantially flat main body memberadapted for rotation about a vertical axis lying in the plane of saidmember and located centrally between its opposite side edges, said bodymember being provided with a pair of oppositely presenting channelsrespectively constituting the opposite side marginal portions of theagitator, the side walls of each channel being struck out of the mainbody member to provide a plurality of laterally spaced sectionsrespectively constituting the basal walls of said channels, said basalwalls of the channels being each provided with a series of verticallyspaced restricted apertures.

2. In an agitator of the character defined in claim 1 wherein the saidvertically spaced apertures each have associated therewith a tab pro-'ecting from the said basal wall portion of the channel and rearwardlythereof.

3. An agitator adapted to be removably inserted within a container forpaint or other such material to be agitated comprising a substantiallyflat main body member adapted for rotation about a vertical axis lyingapproximately in the plane of said body member, said body member beingprovided with a pair of integral flanges projecting outwardly of theflat plane of said body member to form a vertically disposed channelpresenting generally in the direction of rotation of the agitator, thebase portion of said channel being provided with a series of verticallyspaced apertures through which the material, swept into the channel uponrotation of the agitator, is discharged.

4. An agitator adapted to be removably inserted within a container forpaint or other such material to be agitated comprising a substantiallyflat main body member adapted for rotation about a vertical axis lyingapproximately in the plane of said body member, said body member beingprovided with a pair of flanges projecting outwardly of the flat planeof said body member to form a vertically disposed channel presentinggenerally in the direction of rotation of the agitator and having a basewall portion interconnecting said flanges and disposed in the plane ofsaid main body member, the base portion of said channel being providedwith a series of vertically spaced apertures through which the material,swept into the channel upon rotation of the agitator, is discharged, andmeans operatively asso- [ciated with each of said apertures forimparting an upwardly directed thrust to the material discharged throughsaid apertures.

5. An agitator adapted to be removably inserted within a container forpaint or the like comprising a, substantially flat main body memberadapted for rotation about a vertical axis lyingin the plane of saidmember and located centrally between its opposite edges, said bodymember being provided with a pair of oppositely presentingchannels'respectively constituting the opposite side marginal portionsof the agitator and with a pair of reversely projecting flanges locatedbetween said channels and respectively disposed to either side of theaxis of rotation of the agitator, the flange immediately adjacent eachchannel presenting in the same direction as the mouth of said channeland being separated therefrom by an opening formed in the main bodymember of the agitator, the side walls of said channels and thereversely projecting flanges aforesaid being all struck out of the mainbody member of the agitator, and the basal wall portions of each of saidoppositely presenting channels and the portion of the body memberdisposed between said reversely projecting flanges being each providedwith a series of vertically spaced apertures.

MITCHELL FOX.

